Pubdate: Wed, 26 Sep 2012
Source: Maple Ridge News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Maple Ridge News
Contact:  http://www.mapleridgenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1328

A LOSING BATTLE

Municipal leaders were to vote Wednesday, Sept. 26 on a resolution
calling for the appropriate level of government to decriminalize
marijuana, as well research the taxation of it.

The resolution was raised by the community of Metchosin at the Union
of B.C. Municipalities convention, and suggests that B.C. is
responsible for 40 per cent of all marijuana grown in Canada.

The prohibition on pot is a failed policy that costs the province
millions each year for police, court, jail and social services.

It is hoped ending it would at least reduce those costs, redirect the
money and put new tax dollars towards more worthy pursuits, such as
health and education.

But some believe that is much wishful thinking, since a majority of
marijuana produced in Canada is exported to the U.S. and traded for
guns and cocaine.

Organized crime would continue to meet that demand.

But what if it was reduced?

Across the line, Washington, Oregon and California are considering
legalizing marijuana. They could grow and tax their own.

Ottawa should do the same.

That won't mean organized crime is going to stop growing marijuana,
nor is organized crime going to go away.

Grow-ops have gone from basements and crawl spaces to large-scale
barns and portable trailers. Organized crime adapts, violence persists.

And it's not just marijuana they're dealing, or else we wouldn't be
seeing so many young men and women dying from MDMA overdoses.

But marijuana use is so widespread - an estimated 585,000 British
Columbians use marijuana regularly - that prohibiting it no longer
makes sense, not at the time and expense wasted fighting a losing battle.

Better to regulate and tax it, and put the residual benefits to better
use.
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MAP posted-by: Matt